The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1887-01-07
WASHINGTON NEWS.

| w ~Ak114ANO O1N 1NG w Ne
President and Mrs. Cleveland kept open
house New Years day, and were tiironged
with callers. The President was greatly
fatigued. The wives OF the cabinet mem
bers also received, and We'd with each
other In display.
A letter recently received from the wife
| OF Mr.. Justice Woods of the United States
Supreme Court, who Is spending the winter
IN Southern California on account OF his
. health, says that the justice Is better and
that he has gained some flesh.
| Representative Springer, after careful
| study OF the Pacific railroad question. has
| decided to Offer nm amendment to the Outll'
waite refunding bill r quiring the COM
| panies to discharge their debt to the gov.
| eminent In twenty-siX years, by annual In
| stallments, OF $3,S77,4l0.
The board of United States engineers ap-
| pointed by the war department to take
testimony on the subject of building a
bridge across the Mississippi river at St.
Louis. finished their hearing. of the matter
Friday evening and were unanimous in
their opinion that the city needed q bridge,
but reserved their decision us. to whether IL
I should be high or low one.
The decrease i'm the public debt during
December was S9,S5S, 202 The interest
bearing bonds now amount to 81, 130, Az, 46a
ny gaming since July last, and Is now $40, :
9l3, Alb. The governments holdings Of
silver have rapidly fallen off for some
months, the aggregate being $75, 99s,944.
Gen. Miles called at the war department
Thursday and had an extended Interview
with Secretary EndicOtt. The general lett
Washington in the evening for New York,
to remain day or two before proceeding
to Prescott Arizona, where he will direct
the removal of his headquarters to Los
Angeles, Cal. Mrs. Miles will accompany
her husband west.
. IL.
Navy to appoint at the washington navy
yard by Feb. q superintendent of the new
gun mandatory at the yard, and I've desires
publicity To be given to the fact, and appli
cations to be sent to him before Jan. Is,
stating the qualifications Of the person
making application. The matter of salary
has been left open TO secure the services of
proper person.
The commissioner ofagriculture has sent
to the governor of Illinois scOrching pro
test against the action OF the livestock
commission in regard to pleuro-pneumOnia
with arrogating the right to decide ques-
tions of the utmost Importance to the
whole country without consulting the de-
partment of agriculture. lie states that
the worst infected place In Chicago, owned
by wealthy distilling company, has been
flied with fresh cattle.
The civil-service commission has under
consideration the testimony taken by Com
missioner Oberly relative to the workings
oil the civil-service law and rules In the
New York cust0m-hOuse and his recom-
mendation for the improvement of the
service. If the commission should decide
to adopt MIR. Oberly's proposition to allow
the collector TO select from the whole NUM-
Der of eligible employees 1t Is probable that
q predatory declaration will be made of the
commissions intention to assume control of
promotions in the customs service.
MIRO Epmaua the rio ~ ifa 0f Prof
EnmOns, government ge0logist whose
dOings have been chrOnIcled in the papers,
was here Thursday, having arrived oh
morning train from New York. She went
her personal effects, sent them to New
York. She had small reticule full of
money, which she frequently displayed.
This was her only unusual performance
during tho day. She announced her de-
termination to return to Europe soon.
The paymaster-general of the army, III q
circular publishing the recent act for the
relief of the West Point graduates affected
by the controllers decision in the ROdman
case, states that claims presented by officers
who have not been paid In accordance with
the act referred to, and that are chargeable
to the appropriations of the two last fiscal
years, will be- paid by the officers of the pay
department. with the pay accounts of the
current quarter. Claims chargeable to
prior appropriations will be settled by the
accounting officers of the treasury. About
800 officers will have money refunded TO
them under the act.
a FAVORED COMMITTEE.
The whip-hand over all other committees
of the House, except the committee III
charge of revenus and Appropriation bills
Is held by the committee on agri ulture
The enterprlsing chairman or that cOmukt-
toe Obtained from tho House In May last
special order giving to business presented
by the committee or agriculture the right
OF way over everything except bills Tor
raising revenue and general appropriations.
The extraordinary effect OF the wording of
the order was not generally appreciated by
members ut the time, but IT'S Inconvenience
In practical operation IS likely to be felt
many times before the close Of tho session
unless the committee on agriculture should
decide to be very moderate In claiming It's
rights. The committee has on II md Is
number of important matters. which, 1t
pressed, would occupy the remainder Of the
session that Is not devoted to APPROPRIATION
bills. Among them are the plenro-pnen.
monia bill and bills for the establishment
OF agricultural experiment stations In con-
nection with the agricultural colleges of
the several states, aud to make the depart
ment OF agriculture an executive depart
ment Several other committees have
special orders, but all OF them arc hammer
ed by the aforementioned order. In view
Of this condition of affairs Speaker Carlisle
has venlured the opinion that the Pacific
railroad funding bill Is not likely to be
reached this session. IL Is possible, how
ever, for majority OF the House to unite
Its hands temporarily bv refusing to con-
slider any bill that may be called up by the
committee OH agriculture on particular
day, but 1t Is always difficult to get ma
jority to put themselves on record against
anything supposed to be demanded by the
farmers.
THE NEW CRUISERS.
Naval people are looking forward with
great expectation to the completion Of the
steel cruiser Chicago. The vessel now lies
at the contractors slip at Chester, on the
Delaware, and will soon be ready to sail.
Theirs Is great deal of competition among
officers eligible to command her, rs 1t Is be-
lieved that she will be tho best and most
creditable ship In the service. Although
been started that Capt Meade, nephew OF
Gen Meade and son of Cnmm0dara RIch-